* Protection Area Statistics do not reflect local fire department’s fire run information. Statistics are for the ODAFF-Forestry Services’ eighteen county Fire Protection Area in eastern Oklahoma unless otherwise noted in the Discussion section of this report.

** - These statistics are from Fire Departments that have reported their information on the Oklahoma Forestry Services web-based Fire Reporting System. Totals do not reflect the total acres burned or total number of fires that have occurred in Oklahoma.

Statewide Discussion: No requests for State assistance or reports of unusual fire activity were received from outside of the Protection Area during the reporting period.

High to very high fire danger is expected in a large portion of Oklahoma today. This area is bordered on the west by a line from Grant County to Beckham County and roughly bordered on the east by US 75 highway. South-southwest winds sustained from 20-25 mph with gusts above 30 mph are forecast this afternoon. High temperatures are forecast to range from 65-70+ degrees during the peak of the burning period. Relative humidity is expected to range from near 25% to 30%.

SPECIAL NOTE TO FIREFIGHTERS: This afternoon’s fire weather in the area described above will allow for erratic fire behavior characterized by rapid rates of spread, short to mid-range spotting and torching in eastern redcedar thickets. Direct attack at the head of a fire in tall grass will not be possible today. The highest probability of success will be to establish an anchor point, suppress the fire flanks, and look for a favorable change in fuels or topography as the location to stop the head of the fire.

Fire weather conditions are expected to improve early this evening as the relative humidity will begin to rise and winds will greatly diminish.

SPECIAL NOTE TO THE PUBLIC: Although there are no burn bans in effect in Oklahoma, outdoor burning is strongly discouraged today in the area described above. Strong winds coupled with low relative humidity readings will allow for any fire started to easily escape control.

In addition, check any burns from yesterday to ensure that they are dead out. A wildfire could start as a result of today’s strong, gusty winds potentially blowing live embers into surrounding wildland fuels.

No Burn Bans are currently in effect. For information concerning burn bans click on the following link: